In collaboration with the Fisheries Commission, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) has announced that the fishing closed season for this year starts from July 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022.
According to the Fisheries Ministry, observance of the closed season is in line with section 84 of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625). It forms part of strategies to reduce the excessive pressure and over-exploitation of stocks in the marine sub-sector, which will help replenish the fish stocks.
A press release statement signed by the sector minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, specified that July 1 to July 31, 2022, is the closed season for artisanal and semi-industrial fleets, while July 1 to August 31, 2022, will be observed by industrial trawlers.
“It must be indicated that the period of the 2022 closed season was agreed on based on scientific evidence and stakeholder consensus,” the statement said, specifying that during the closed season period, the ministry will not supply premix fuel to the coastal landing beach committees.
The closed season is for Fishers advantage
In an earlier interview, the Minister pronounced the 2021 fishing closed season as “largely successful,” despite initial agitations by some fisher folks. Recently, in an interview, a group of fishers lamented that the time for the closed season isn’t favorable to them because that is when fishes are abundant in the sea.
She said the closed season in July yielded more fish catch for both artisanal and semi-industrial fleets than catches in the same period of 2020, where there was no closed season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closed season is for Fishers advantage, she added.
“The 2021 closed season, observed during the major upwelling, thus, allowed both the small pelagic and demersal species to spawn and grow much bigger for recruitment into the fisheries mix,” she said.
Plans underway to introduce a different closing season
Madam Hawa Koomson also disclosed MoFAD’s intention to introduce a different closed season from December to February to help replenish pelagic fish.
“Based on scientific evidence and recommendations, MoFAD desires that an additional two-month closed season for all fleets during the minor upwelling season (December to February) be observed. This will be considered shortly in consultation with fisheries sector stakeholders,” she said.
The Ministry has stated its willingness to increase vigilance to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing which might threaten the sustainability and effort to rebuild depleted fish stocks. It added that activities are far advanced for acquiring a research vessel and four patrol boats for the fisheries sector.
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